Hemedti: Sudan court sentences RSF leader to death over war crimes

Hemedti: Sudan court sentences RSF leader to death over war crimes
Deputy head of Sudan's sovereign council General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo speaks during a press conference at Rapid Support Forces head quarter in Khartoum, Sudan, 19 February 2023.
Reuters

A Sudanese court has sentenced Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, and 15 other defendants to death in absentia over crimes committed during the conflict in West Darfur.  

The anti-terrorism and crimes against the state court in Port Sudan convicted the group of crimes including the killing of West Darfur Governor Khamis Abdullah Abakar, crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide linked to the violence in el-Geneina.

The ruling marks the first judicial conviction of the RSF's leadership since Sudan's war began in April 2023.

The case focused on the June 2023 killing of Governor Abakar, who was abducted and killed a day after accusing the RSF of shelling civilian neighbourhoods in el-Geneina.

Human rights organisations have described the violence in the city as ethnic cleansing and said it may amount to genocide against the Masalit community.

Those sentenced also include Hemedti's brother and deputy, Abdel Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, his brother Algoney Hamdan Daglo Musa, RSF West Darfur commander Abdel Rahman Juma Barkallah, and former West Darfur deputy governor al-Tijani al-Tahir Karshoum.

The RSF has previously denied responsibility for Abakar's killing and blamed the Sudanese Armed Forces.

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